Previously available to clinicians, patients with a NPWT System from Smith & Nephew can now also dial 1-866-998-NPWT (6798) and speak directly to patient-dedicated support staff who can answer patient education and product questions about NPWT Systems from Smith & Nephew. The clinical hotline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

"We are proud to be the only company offering patients a live and fully staffed hotline for its NPWT systems. We believe that it's our corporate and social responsibility to ensure that everyone using our RENASYS systems – clinicians and patients alike – has complete access to product information at all times to assure the safe use of medical devices," said Patricia Burns, Sr. Director Clinical Affairs at Smith & Nephew.

"The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandates that patients have access to product information and training to assure the safe use of medical devices. We believe that taking it to the next level by making it immediately accessible is the best approach to supporting patients," said Ms. Burns.

"The clinical hotline is a component of our investment in a comprehensive program to support the patient receiving NPWT in the home and further support appropriate product utilization and patient education," she continued. "Every NPWT system from Smith & Nephew will have the hotline number on it for easy patient access and use."

In addition to the clinical hotline, Smith & Nephew NPWT customers and patients can visit www.myrenasys.com to access information on device functionality and instructional videos on application techniques.

"Smith & Nephew is committed to NPWT and our goal with resources such as the hotline and www.myrenasys.com is to enable the patient receiving NPWT to go home with confidence," Burns said.